Giraud, Henri Honoré (1879-1949)

French general. He put up stiff resistance to the German invasion of France but was captured and imprisoned by the Germans 1940-42, when he escaped to Algiers. He succeeded Admiral Darlan as local commander of the Free French in Algiers December 1942. He became co-president, with de Gaulle, of the National Committee for Liberation May 1943 and was made commander-in-chief of the French Army, liberating Corsica September 1943. However, de Gaulle's political manoeuvring led to him resigning his co-presidency October 1943 and his command in North Africa April 1944.